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Living in
Atchison.
About
Life in Atchison
Atchison is a community of 10,795 people in Kansas. The median household income is $54,695, median rent runs about $736 per month, and median home values are around $130,200. Unemployment is low at 4.1%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Atchison at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
29.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.8%
Foreign-Born
2.8%
Broadband Internet
88.4%
of households
Population Growth
-0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.8% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in Atchison: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Atchison, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (23.9%), and 2.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.7%
of residents
65 and Older
14.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.9%
of households
Married Couples
40.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.59
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 30% below KS average
Rent, home values, and income in Atchison
In Atchison, rent runs 30% below the KS average, and home values are 40% below the KS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.2%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,029
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1962
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $172,842 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KS
Unemployment in Atchison
Unemployment in Atchison County, which includes Atchison, is close to the KS average.
Unemployment rate
Atchison: Atchison County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Atchison County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Atchison Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.8 min avg
How Atchison residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Atchison, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 mi
Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Medium hub5.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 41% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Atchison runs 41% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
194.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,055.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Atchison Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
16.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Atchison County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Atchison County, which includes Atchison, the most common type is drought, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 5 | Hail | Not estimated |
| 2023 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 4 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 2 | Hail | None reported |
| 2019 | 12 | Flood | $200,000 |
| 2018 | 8 | Drought | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Atchison County, county-wide
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Buchanan County, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 19 miles from Atchison) is typically good — 206 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
206
per year
Moderate Days
157
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Buchanan County, MO (19 mi away)
Climate86°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Atchison has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.4"
Annual Snowfall
17.0"
Hot Days/Year
38
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
107
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
89
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 18°F | 0.93" |
| Feb | 42°F | 23°F | 1.20" |
| Mar | 54°F | 32°F | 1.92" |
| Apr | 65°F | 43°F | 3.42" |
| May | 74°F | 55°F | 5.32" |
| Jun | 84°F | 65°F | 4.87" |
| Jul | 88°F | 69°F | 5.17" |
| Aug | 86°F | 67°F | 3.75" |
| Sep | 79°F | 58°F | 3.48" |
| Oct | 67°F | 46°F | 3.10" |
| Nov | 52°F | 33°F | 1.81" |
| Dec | 40°F | 23°F | 1.41" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Atchison
Atchison has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
9.4%
of residents
Amberwell Atchison Association
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Atchison
Atchison's student/teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 26.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Atchison
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,272 students · in-state tuition $37,750 · 67% graduate · median earnings $58,102 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, 46 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Atchison
Atchison has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park (46 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
46 mi awayHarry S Truman National Historic Site
National Historic Site
55 mi awayPublic Libraries in Atchison
Atchison Library
401 Kansas Avenue, Atchison
Cities Near Atchison
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Atchison?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Atchison FAQ
Is Atchison, Kansas affordable?⌄
Atchison's median rent is $737/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $54,474/year. Median home value is $129,700.
Is Atchison, Kansas safe?⌄
Atchison's violent crime rate was 195 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1056 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Atchison, Kansas?⌄
Atchison County, which includes Atchison, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Atchison, Kansas?⌄
The cost of living in Atchison is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $737/month and median household income is $54,474/year. The median home value is $129,700. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Atchison, Kansas?⌄
The average commute in Atchison is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from